College

In September 2017, Tufto started his NCAA hockey career with the Quinnipiac Bobcats while majoring in finance.^[13] He entered college standing at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) but was praised by Rand Pecknold for his high offensive IQ.^[12] Tufto began the season tallying a point in his first three games, making him the first player to achieve this feat since Chase Priskie in 2015–16. Later in October, he also became the first rookie since Ben Nelson in 2005 to score an overtime game-winner.^[14] He received praise from teammates as a possible replacement for Travis St. Denis and Sam Anas who had left the team two years prior.^[15] By February 2018, Tufto was one of 31 players in the country to reach 30 points and led all NCAA Division I freshmen in multiple-point games. As a result of his success, he was announced as one of 16 semifinalists for the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born NCAA Division I hockey player in New England.^[16] The following month, Tufto was named one of three finalists for the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year Award^[17] and selected for the Third-team All-ECAC.^[18]

Tufto returned to the Bobcats for his sophomore season and began playing center instead of his original position of left winger.^[5] Upon returning to the lineup, he recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in a 7–2 win over the Maine Black Bears. He had recorded all three of his goals during the first period and added two assists for a five-point game.^[19] As the season continued, Tufto became the first Quinnipiac player to record back-to-back 40-point seasons since 2007. He was tied for sixth in the league with 15 goals and third with 27 assists.^[2] Due to his sophomore success, Tufto was again named a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown Award^[20] and was named to the ECAC Hockey Second team.^[21] Tufto was also honored with a selection to the New England Hockey Writers' Association All-New England Division I All-Star Team^[22] and ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team for a second straight season.^[23]

During the offseason prior to his junior season, Tufto was invited to attend the National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings 2019 Development Camp.^[24] Upon returning to the Bobcats, Tufto accepted the position of assistant captain and named to the ECAC Hockey Second Team for a second straight season.^[2]

As a senior, Tufto finished his collegiate career with the most assists in program history, third in Division I program history, and seventh all-time with 168 points.^[2] While serving as team captain,^[25] Tufto recorded an eight-game point streak from October 19 to November 16 with nine points.^[2] At the conclusion of the season, Tufto was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year^[26] and AHCA First-Team All-American.^[27] He was later named to the All-College Hockey News Second Team,^[28] All-USCHO First Team,^[29] Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American,^[13] and ECAC Hockey First Team.^[30]

Professional

Once the Bobcats were eliminated from the playoffs by Minnesota State on March 27,^[31] Tufto concluded his collegiate career by signing an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season, saying that "[w]e felt Tampa does a really good job of developing players."^[6] Following the signing, he was immediately assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, on an amateur try-out contract.^[32] He made his professional debut with the Crunch on April 7 during an overtime win over the Rochester Americans.^[6] Tufto played three more games with the team, recording no goals or assists.^[1]

As a free agent from the Lightning, Tufto continued his career in the AHL after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Tucson Roadrunners, the primary affiliate to the Arizona Coyotes, on August 31, 2022.^[33] Tufto missed the beginning of the 2022–23 season through injury, and was re-assigned to the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL upon his return. Tufto made 12 appearances in the ECHL before he was recalled by the Roadrunners and later released without featuring for the club on January 21, 2023. For the remainder of the season, Tufto signed and appeared with second tier German club, Krefeld Pinguine in the DEL2.

Returning to North America in the off-season, Tufto was signed to a ECHL contract in joining the Iowa Heartlanders on July 14, 2023.^[34]